Tips for Entertaining the Kids this Summer
The summer is the ideal time for having fun while the little ones are at home during the day. It can get expensive taking them places that cost tons of money just to get in such as theme parks. If you are in a similar predicament as many Americans are, you shouldn’t worry, since there are many inexpensive things you can do right at home. These fun things to do are ideal for children under 10 years old. Many of these activities are focused around learning activities together.
Using Household Items in Your Games
Props from around the house can complement your stories. An entertaining activity to do at home is to imagine that you run an emergency room or doctor’s office. Have the children gather a stuffed toy or other toy and then use things from around your house that can be used as fake medical tools. Most houses are jam-packed with odd trinkets that can be made into surgical kits. You can also do another take on this game by setting up a mock news reporting studio for television. A stuffed animal or other toys can be used as part of the creative storylines that your child and you are describing to the pretend audience.
Get Out on a Safari Trip
A game that is particularly entertaining is to imagine that you’ve traveled to Africa for a safari. Gather some large sheets and tie the ends into chairs, the sofa, or any strong fixture in the room. Drape the sheets so that thekids feel like they are hidden by large forest trees or in the thick brush where the wild creatures can’t see them. If you have a pair of binoculars, get them out for added fun. Have your kids gather all of the stuffed creatures and creature figures they can find and distribute them throughout the space, mostly hiding from view, and then use the binoculars to peek on them. Once the kids find each animal, shout out the sound that the animal makes. They always have big fun with this game!
Create Quality Time and Get Active
Another low-cost, yet really fun thing to do is to go out together for a ride on bicycles. If you have younger children, you can tote them along in a trailer attachment where they can be seated in a secured cart. For low-mileage outings, some younger ones might want to use their skates to get from point A to B. To make it even more fun, take your time and call out different items for them to spot while you’re out, like a treasure hunt. Things like hummingbirds, butterflies, or chipmunks can all be great things for everyone to call out as they find them. This game also works perfectly on a hike and can help kids learn about nature and their environment.
Fun in the Evenings
When night falls, the fun doesn’t have to stop there! Raise a tent in the yard somewhere and provide binoculars for they can observe the night skies. If you have a firebowl or a small charcoal barbeque, you can make a wood-burning fire for them. Have the kids get together some branches that can be wooden skewers for toasting s’mores. If you have several free days this summer, go camping somewhere fun and extend your time enjoying nature! These activities will surely give you and your kids a fun summer break full of imagination, activity, and learning.
